Pacey again found himself up early on a Saturday morning. Once again the blame lied with a certain sarcastic brunette with a lop-sided smile. She had called last night while he was out working on True Love. He pushed play on the answer machine and after a beep heard her voice, "Hey Pace. It's me. I was thinking that we should get some work done on True Love before embarking on Dawson's crazy witch-hunt tomorrow. Pick me up at 7:30? Don't be late or you won't get breakfast. And leave your whining at home."
Needless to say this was not the first time Pacey had listened to her message. There were so many things about it that made him smile. It wasn't too long ago that Joey Potter calling him would have been very usual. Not just because she hated talking on the phone – as in refused to order pizza for movie nights hated – but because she would rather talk to just about anyone else than him. In the rare event that she did call him the messages always started with, "Hi, this is Joey. Dawson wanted me to call ..." Now she didn't even have to identify herself because lately "me" could only be one person … her. Hearing her talk about True Love always made him swell with pride. She wanted to spend her limited free time working with him to restore his dream, and he planned to do the same for her. Their once trouble relationship had become easy and symbiotic. Pacey pushed play one final time before erasing the message recalling the teasing he had endured from Doug the last time he left one of her messages on the machine. He chuckled to himself as he heard one thing that had not changed: man, was she bossy!
Pacey pulled into her driveway at 7:25am. He walked up the stairs of the front porch, opened the screen door, and entered the house without knocking. "OK, Potter, I'm here! Where's my breakfast?"
He turned his head to see Bessie staring at him. "Awfully demanding, aren't we, Pacey?" she asked clearly not amused.
"Sorry, Bess. It's just that sister of yours promised me breakfast if I was here by 7:30, so I needed to make my presence known," he responded.
"Oh yes, because you're generally so quiet that I'm sure your presence often goes unnoticed," Bessie teased.
"Nah, it's just that you Potter gals obviously have a thing for me."
"Don't flatter yourself, Pacey," Joey said walking into the kitchen right on cue.
"So who is making this promised breakfast?" Bessie asked her sister already anticipating the answer.
Joey walked to the refrigerator and pulled out a large Ziploc bag. "I figured we could toast some of Bodie's leftover pancakes. And maybe you could start some bacon? I'm not sure that we can trust Pacey with much more than black coffee."
Bessie laughed and Pacey scoffed. "I'll have you know that I am a good cook." Joey looked at him suspiciously. "OK, well I'm probably a good cook." Pacey could tell that neither Potter sister was buying what he was selling. "Fine, I love you both, but let's be honest … I can't be any worse than either of you." Joey conceded his argument and Bessie must have too because she passed him a frying pan.
"Well, get to it then folks. I'll take two of each. And Pacey I like my coffee strong," Bessie said with a smile as she left the kitchen to tend to Alexander. Joey rolled her eyes at her sister who obviously had no plans to assist with the preparation. She quickly put the pancakes into the toaster.
"So remind me again why we're joining Dawson on this little adventure of his?" Pacey asked as he started putting bacon into the frying pan. "Because it looks like the weather is gonna be great today and since my apprentice decided to abandon me this week, there's lots to do on my girl," he stated with a glance at Joey out of the side of his eye.
"I know you're not talking about me because I am NOT your apprentice," Joey responded with her eyes narrowing in a silent challenge. "And we're joining because he's Dawson and we're … us. It's what we do," Joey suggested.
"I suppose. But why does he always get to be Fred while we're relegated to Velma and Shaggy?" Pacey asked.
"Of course I'm the frumpy one. Heaven forbid Joey be the attractive one. That designation goes to the buxom blonde, I assume?" Joey accused.
Pacey looked at her with frustration. "Daphne usually plays the damsel in distress. I didn't think you'd be so keen on being the one who gets kidnapped all the time. Forgive me for portraying you as the highly intelligent individual who actually solves the mysteries. By all means, if you'd prefer the purple dress and pink pantyhose, don't let me stop you."
Joey looked at him with surprise. He was right. She'd rather be valued for her intelligence than her looks. Nevertheless, she was still an insecure teenager … some recognition that she wasn't hideous would still be a good thing. "Nah, I can't do much ass kicking in those silly lavender heels of hers," she responded.
"Maybe not, but those longs stems you got there would work quite nicely for those mini dresses she wears," Pacey said wagging his eyebrows at her.
She rolled her eyes at him. "Down boy!" Joey said playfully. Pacey moved toward her with his tongue out pretending to pant. "You sure you're the Shaggy of the group? I see more of a Scooby resemblance."
"Now, I'm quite sure you intended that as an insult, Potter. We all know that Scooby Doo is the obvious star of the show, and ultimately, the one who catches the bad guy. Plus he gets all the snacks," Pacey said with a shrug.
"You are ridiculous. Do you think of nothing else?" Joey asked as she finished making their breakfast plates.
"Of course I do! But food and sex are the dominant topics. And before you get all Judgmental Joey on me, those are the motifs of the thoughts of teenage boys," he said with certainty.
"I refuse to believe that. Besides let's be honest, you are not most boys, Pace."
"Aww … you think I'm special," he said with a smile.
"Ha! I'm pretty sure we determined you were more dog than human, so you don't really count as a boy," Joey smirked knowing that she had won that battle. "Now eat your breakfast or we won't get anything done before Dawson comes calling."
Pacey finished pouring three cups of coffee and sat down to eat his pancakes and bacon. "Bessie, your coffee is ready," he hollered. Bessie returned to the kitchen with Alexander. She placed her son in his highchair and sat down to eat her breakfast. "Did you say these pancakes were leftover? Man, they are good!"
Bessie smiled, "Yes, Bodie made them during his last visit home."
Pacey nodded with his mouth full. "Now there's your cook for the breakfast part of the B&B! These are great. You've been holding out on me, Potter."
"I wish!" Bessie said. "I'm not sure if we'll be able to afford to have Bodie come home. Let alone stay home."
"Besides must I remind you that we don't even have the insurance money yet, Pacey," Joey said with frustration.
"I know. I'm just sayin that people would come from far and wide for this kind of home cooking. Besides, it's normal to make plans before actually starting construction and such. I mean we need a business plan, right?" Pacey asked. Bessie nodded reluctantly, but Joey continued to look at him with disinterest. "C'mon, Jo. I know you're afraid to jinx it, but you will get the money. And the Potter B&B will be amazing. Successful."
"Forgive me for not sharing your optimism, Pacey. Something about our entire livelihood being on the line makes me nervous," Joey said staring at her bacon.
Bessie put her hand on Joey's shoulder. "We will figure it all out, Joey. Don't worry," she said trying to comfort her little sister.
Pacey noticed that despite Bessie's encouragement, Joey remained tense. Sensing a pending Potter sister quarrel, he decided to fill the silence. "What do you guys think about talking to some of the local vendors about using their products here? You know, like in exchange for selling them to your guests or maybe for free advertising. There's Lea Reynolds. She might be interested in sharing her maple syrup to add to the awesomeness of these pancakes! Or the Cramer family who makes all the honey, they might be interested. That way we could have fresh ingredients. Plus staying local is always good, and cost-effective."
"That's a good idea, Pacey," Bessie said with slight excitement.
"Yeah, and how are we going to convince people to give us their products for free? We don't even have rooms for guests, Pacey!" Joey added.
Pacey was used to Joey's pessimism, but this seemed a bit much; even for her. He made a mental note to find out what was bothering her. "People will come, Jo. They'll come to Capeside, Mass., for reasons they can't even fathom," Pacey began. "They'll turn up your driveway not knowing for sure why they're doing it. They'll arrive at your door as innocent as children, longing for the past." Bessie looked at him inquisitively. "'Of course, we won't mind if you stay the night,' you'll say. "It's only $150.' They'll pass over the money without even thinking about it: for it is money they have and peace they lack," Pacey continued with a faraway look. "And they'll walk out to the dock; sit in shortsleeves on a perfect afternoon. They'll find they have reserved seats somewhere along one of the baselines, where they sat when they were children and cheered their heroes. And they'll watch the game and it'll be as if they dipped themselves in magic waters. The memories will be so thick they'll have to brush them away from their faces," he recited.
"Games? What is he talking about?" Bessie asked confused. Joey rolled her eyes at his silliness.
"Oh … people will come, Jo. People will most definitely come," he said with a smile.
Joey shook her head. "Now you're equating us with a crazy farmer from Iowa? Next thing I know you'll be telling me to 'go the distance.' This is not helping, Pacey," Joey said with a broad smile.
"If you build it, they will come. That is all I'm saying," he said.
"I don't get it. This must be from a movie or something," Bessie said as Joey and Pacey laughed. "You guys are weird."
Joey shook her head in amusement. "Finish your breakfast, Mr. Mann."